ON THE STRUCTURE OF BIRDS. 45 



have yet considerable liold of llie public mind. I must 

 content myself with exhibiting, I hope, a faithful sketch 

 of the science as it actually exists, rather than of what I 

 couid wish it to be. 



I take leave of this part of my subject by cautioning the 

 student not to attribute too much importance to any system 

 of ornithology ; against devoting too much attention to the 

 means instead of the end, which, of course, is the acquisition 

 of the hiotvledge oftheforms^ colours, habits, songs, and man- 

 ners, of Birds ; and lest, in so doing, he should incur the 

 censure of St. Pierre, " Nos ornilhologistes, enchaines par 

 leur methodes, ne songent qu"* a grossir lew catalogue, et ne 

 conoissent, dans les oiseaux, que les paltes et le bee. Ce nest 

 point dans les nids q\C ils les observent, mais ct, la chasse et 

 dans leur gibeciere.* 



From the limits to which T am confined, it will be quite 

 impossible to enter into a minute description of the anatomy 

 of Birds; but it may be observed generally, that their 

 different structures admirably correspond to the very differ- 

 ent functions for which they are adapted. The palmate 

 feet of the Water-birds enabling them to move on and in 

 that element with dexterity ; the wings of many of the land 

 Birds, particularly of the Eagle, the Pigeon, and Swallow, 

 enabling them to take swift and long flights with the 

 greatest ease ; while again, those whose chief characteristic 

 is running, such as the Ostrich or struthious tribe, have their 

 legs and feet well adapted for such purposes, their wings 

 being comparatively of little use. While others again, such 

 as many of the Waders, and some of the Perchers, both fly 

 and run with considerable speed- 



One of the chief characteristics of Birds is, of course, the 



* Etudes de la Nature, torn, iii., page 506, Hamburgh edit. 1797. 



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